The
Consciousness Collaborative Update
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Register for Upcoming Classes & Events
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Free Teleclass
Nov. 9th 
"Struggling vs. Allowing" Many of us were brought up with some version of the belief that life is tough, and our job is to struggle and persevere against it to survive. We struggle to be successful at work, be good parents, lovers, and providers. And yet no matter how hard we push, it often seems the universe pushes back just as hard. After pulling the wagon all day, instead of feeling inspired and energized, we often feel tired, empty, and lonely.
How is it then, that some people appear to have unlimited energy - and the whole world seems to open up to them? It's not that they don't face challenges, but they are just that, challenges, rather than insurmountable problems with which to toil and struggle. This month's teleclass instructor, Adrian Wilkins, explains, "My experience is that these individuals have learned how to access and allow an unlimited well of energy that is inherent in each of us. They have learned how to tap into the power of the universe instead of fight against it."
In this one-hour teleclass, you will be invited to explore your beliefs about struggling vs. allowing. And you may begin to see how to tap into your powerful inner energy in a way that is free and NOT about pulling the wagon one more mile.
If you would like a taste of what it feels like to truly allow your power and bring that back into the world with you - allow yourself to sign up for this free class. It may be an important step to accessing your own inspired energy.
Also, mark your calendar for December 14th, when our teleclass leader, Samvedam Randles, will speak about the power of Sacred Journeys, with a special focus on, "Egypt: Remembrances, Exploring the Mysteries." Free Public Event! Nov. 9th Teleclass Instructor: Adrian Wilkins 7-8pm (eastern time) Register On-Line (for your personal dial-in number and access code) |
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Save the Dates
Free Intro to What's Next?!
and
What's Next?! Workshop 2012
For many of us, unconscious limiting beliefs hold us back from living the life we want. We may have a sense that we want something more, something new; we may even be able to picture it, but getting from here to there feels impossible. And more than that, we believe we can only be happy and satisfied if we have "that thing" - a perfect example of a limiting belief in action.
Throughout the What's Next?! Workshop series, we explore the false foundational blocks that we've built our "less-than-helpful" actions upon. But only after we've first focused our attention on the inner support and guidance that, when we listen, provides a wisdom, safety and compassion to navigate through any situation, offering a connected path toward What's Next?!
The reality is that we're quite brilliant - all of us. Rarely will we give up doing something a known way, unless we are shown a superior alternative. Pretty smart! Except, you may ask yourself, "how's that old way been working for me lately?" If you'd like to reveal a better way to approach your personal What's Next?! join Joanne Lutz, creator and facilitator of the series, for the spring session.
If you're curious about the series or would simply be interested in discovering one of your own limiting beliefs, first try an Introduction to What's Next?! In this two-hour class, you may begin to know that it is possible to move through the obstacles that block you and live the life you want by using resources that are already within you. Details for both programs listed below.
December 6th ~ 7-9pm
Lexington, MA
Bonus - A couple of past participants will be joining us for the free two-hour class! From them you may learn, first-hand, how participating in the What's Next?! Workshop series supported their personal journey forward.
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Who Do You See in the Mirror?
Emotional
Re-Education Weekend Retreat
How do you see yourself and others? You, like many of us, may be stuck in a time warp of beliefs. And from that "history channel," your perception of yourself and others gets distorted.
Looking through the lens of old hurts, decisions and beliefs lacks the core clarity that resides within each of us. Traumas - whether as the result of loss, intrusion, betrayal, dismissal, absence, illness or accident - often stay frozen in our bodies. These body memories affect how we see our self and others. They keep us from being fully connected and from being in the present moment.
The Emotional Re-Education Weekend Retreat provides a safe and healing place to challenge limited self beliefs and to cut through inhibiting stuck places. Within the safety of this container, you will have the opportunity to unwind and melt traumas you have experienced. It is a place to try on new attitudes, support your ability to give and receive love, and to be more fully connected to yourself and others.
Emotional Re-Education Weekend Retreat
November 11th-13th
Essex Conference Center
Complete the
ON-LINE APPLICATION
to Participate
This workshop, under the direction of April Prita Manganiello, is led by a team of co-facilitators and assistants, several of whom are members of The Consciousness Collaborative. The ratio of support to participants is about 3:1 - a highly atypical and nourishing setting for profound group work.
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Recipe
of the
Month
Brown Basmati Pilaf
Prep Time: 3 mins
Cooking Time: 30-40 mins
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 C. brown basmati rice
- 2 C. water
- 1/2 C. dried cranberries
- 1/2 C. walnut pieces
- 1/4 C. fresh parsley (chopped)
- pinch of salt
Directions:
1. Rinse ricein fine mesh strainer until water runs clear.
2. boil the water and add rice and salt, cover and reduce heat.
3. After 15 minutes, add cranberries and walnuts to top; do not stir.
4. Cook 15-25 minutes more, until all the liquid is absorbed.
5. Remove from heat, add parsley and fluff with fork; cover and let set for 3-5 minutes and serve.
-Contributed by
Nathalie Blitz
of Vitamin N
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One of my favorite musical artists, Jason Mraz, recently posted the video, "Bathing in Sound." A camera follows Mraz, as part of his "In Search of Incredible" project, to the Mojave Desert where he visits the Integratron. For those, like me, who didn't know, the Integretron is "...an acoustically perfect tabernacle and energy machine sited on a powerful geomagnetic vortex..." Basically, it's a place where the sounds you make reflect back to you exactly as you've made them; it is considered acoustically perfect.
When Mraz first enters the dome and begins to sing, you can see that his excitement falters...just a teeny bit. Then, as he steps into the center, and nears the floor, he hears his own magnificent voice echoing back to him in absolutely perfect resonance, and he beams. From the video, the magic of the Integretron seems to coalesce when the sound comes from the grounded center. The metaphor stayed with me...when we are centered, grounded, and tapping into our unique gifts (in Mraz's case, his voice) what we put out into the world reverberates back to us as a mirror manifestation of our essence. It's like mailing yourself a love letter...even if it gets "returned to sender" it's exactly right.
Within days of watching "Bathing in Sound," Steve Jobs died. I know...I hear your groan from here. The media blitz about Jobs has probably left you numb to any more praise or criticism of the man and his inventions. Bear with me, if you will, as it ties into my theme. I can't speak to who Jobs was as a man, beyond whatever public information is available to all of us, and other than two iPods, I don't own any Apple products. So, I don't pretend to be an expert in all things Jobs or Apple, but I find it impossible to ignore his contributions to the world. When he tapped into his gifts and sent that energy out into the world, Jobs changed how we work, play, and communicate with each other. He didn't do it alone, of course, but the reverberations of his essence bounced back to him in perfect pitch with every successful product he created and every connection made easier through one of his innovations.
I believe we, like Steve Jobs and Jason Mraz, all experience our own version of the Integratron...every day...moment to moment. When our thoughts, words, and actions come from our core, the reverberating sound is magnificent. If we're a little left of our own center, the feedback gets a little pitchy.
If you've read some of my other columns, you may be asking: "Is she really telling us to be defined by the feedback from outside?" NO! It's still me, silly, and that's never the message I'm sending. All of us will experience, from time to time, coming from our most authentic self and find that we meet another who's a bit "off key" in the moment. The integrity comes from our ability to stay present, even in the face of another who may range from "out of sorts" to "off the deep end." This very presence creates an invitation for the other to come back to himself...in effect, you may provide the mirror of who the person is under the flack...an Integratron of their true self.
For some reason what comes to mind as I write this is a story that Prita Manganiello tells from her life-guarding days. Before every swim lesson with her students, Prita would remind them that they were all swimming in the same pool. Therefore, if someone urinated, they'd all be swimming in it. Her supervisor said he'd never seen so many kids use the facilities during a lesson, as when she taught.
How does this tangent relate? I believe it truly matters what we put out into the world, because we really are all swimming in the same pool. And when we offer the best of ourselves in our thoughts, words, and actions, the reflective sound touches us all. The harmony created by our own essence is beautiful.
Want to experience what you're putting out into the world? Try this mirror meditation, inspired by Osho. It's like a mini-visual Integratron, in case you don't have a trip to the Mojave Desert planned.
Reflecting the love,
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Welcoming Samvedam Randles 
We are proud to introduce The Consciousness Collaborative's most recent addition, Samvedam Bettina Randles, Dipl. Psych., LMHC, founder of the Inner Arts Institute in Watertown, MA.
Samvedam is a German Psychologist who graduated from Wilhelms-University in Muenster, Germany. In the US she is licensed as a mental health counselor and as a bodyworker. After training in traditional Psychology, Samvedam's interest and curiosity led her to spend several years in India. With Osho, she studied and experienced the Eastern approaches to inner growth and transformation, plumbing her own depths and integrating these teachings into her work with clients.
With her wealth of education and experience (which you can read with greater flourish and detail here), Samvedam supports clients through her individual and family therapy practice, and in group settings by leading Family Constellation seminars and Breathwork workshops. Samvedam has great passion for her work and shares her knowledge and wisdom by training and supervising others in the disciplines of breathwork and constellations.
In case all of this were not enough to sufficiently impress you with our newest member, Samvedam loves sacred journeys and vision quests. Having apprenticed with Dr. Salvador Roquet and John Perkins/Llyn Roberts, she is uniquely qualified to accompany others on their inner journeys. In 2006 she began leading an annual Journey of the Spirit, expanding consciousness through a blend of inner and outer adventures. Her groups have included trips to Mexico, Bimini, Costa Rica, the Sahara Desert, the Badlands of North Dakota, and coming in 2012... Egypt: Remembrances, Exploring the Mysteries.
If you are interested in working with Samvedam or participating in one of her sacred journeys, you may contact her by email or 617-926-1301.
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The Power of Breath
Your car runs out of gas in the middle of the highway...your son is racing to approach that first hurdle...your daughter is about to say "I do"...and what happens? YOU stop breathing! In moments of stress, we often seek to control something, and so we hold our breath. In that moment, though, we lose connection to Self.
Since ancient times, work with the breath has been used for inner opening and connecting with spiritual dimensions. Working with consciously directed breath, old physical and emotional patterns become clear, and we can connect directly with our innermost Self.
We manifest our state of being through the breath and can influence how we feel by altering our breathing patterns. But in order to do so, we first need to gain awareness of how we hold our breath or restrict it. Only then can we stretch and expand our ability to bring more life force into all parts of our bodies and marvel at how alive and joyful we can feel.
As a trainer and guide of this inner art, I perceive
breathwork as a self-help healing method using a combination of breath, music, sound, and the presence of a facilitator to give the client an experience of Self. Using techniques from bioenergetics, massage, and meditation, each client is taught a circular breathing method called, the connected breath. With the energy of breath, the client embarks on an inner journey into one's soul.
Through learning conscious connected breathing in a safe environment, clients strengthen their relaxation response, let go of tension, and use the energy and rhythm of the breath to connect with their deepest and most spiritual selves. This experience is the foundation of psychological and spiritual integration. Each Breathwork session is different and regular practice will enhance general health, promote well-being and connection with ones Self.
Whether you have never experienced the power of connected breathing or practice regularly and would appreciate the support of a facilitator, I invite you to join me for the monthly breathwork class offered at The Arlington Center in Arlington, MA. The next two-hour class will be Saturday, November 12th. You may view the full schedule on-line.
-Contributed by Samvedam Randles of the Inner Arts Institute
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Thoughts to Chew On
"I have made it a rule to give every tooth of mine a chance, and when I eat, to chew every bite thirty-two times. To this rule I owe much of my success in life."
-William Gladstone
When it comes to increased health, it's not just what we eat, but how we eat. Digestion actually begins in the mouth, where contact with our teeth and digestive enzymes in our saliva break down food. But these days most of us rush through the whole eating experience, barely acknowledging what we're putting in our mouths. We eat while distracted-working, reading, talking, and watching television-and swallow our food practically whole. On average we chew each bite only eight times. It's no wonder that many people have digestive problems.
There are many great reasons to slow down and chew your food. Saliva breaks down food into simple sugars, creating a sweet taste. The more we chew, the sweeter our food becomes, so we don't crave those after-meal sweets. Chewing reduces digestive distress and improves assimilation, allowing our bodies to absorb maximum nutrition from each bite of food. More chewing produces more endorphins, the brain chemicals responsible for creating good feelings. It's also helpful for weight loss, because when we are chewing well, we are more apt to notice when we are full. In fact, chewing can promote healing and circulation, enhance immunity, increase energy and endurance, improve skin health and stabilize weight.
The power of chewing is so great that there are stories of concentration camp survivors who, when others could not, made it through with very little food, by chewing their meager rations up to 300 times per bite of food. For most of us 300 chews is a daunting and unrealistic goal. However, you can experience the benefits of chewing by increasing to 30 chews per bite. Try it and see how you feel.
Taking time with a meal, beginning with chewing, allows for enjoyment of the whole experience of eating: the smells, flavors and textures. It helps us to give thanks, to show appreciation for the abundance in our lives and to develop patience and self-control. Try eating without the TV, computer, newspaper, or noisy company. Instead just pay attention to the food and to how you are breathing and chewing.
This kind of quiet can be disconcerting at first, since we are used to a steady stream of advertising, news, media, email, and demands from others. But as you create a new habit, you will begin to appreciate eating without rushing. You have to eat every day-why not learn to savor and enjoy it?
-Contributed by Nathalie Blitz of Vitamin N |
Understand the "Bigger Picture"
Perhaps you've noticed that interactions with your partner, work mates, or family have a common theme of misunderstandings and entanglements. Or you may be aware of experiencing cycles of disconnection, physical suffering, or financial challenges. If these patterns have peaked your curiosity, and more than that, inspire a desire to shift these dynamics with long term, and often, life changing results, you are invited to share the experience of Family Constellations with Samvedam Randles.
Family Constellations is a therapeutic approach through which we explore the foundational, unconscious dynamics in family systems. As we search for the deeper movements of the soul, we often discover how loyal children are to their families and how much their need to belong influences their actions. Unfortunately these loyalties don't necessarily serve us later in life, and we usually are unaware that we continue to attempt to balance unresolved energies in our families of origin.
In Family Constellations we look to understand the impact of unresolved family issues, or secrets, and often become more aware of influences that our ancestors' fates may still have in our life. Once these connections are identified, a healing process may unfold in which we look for the love that is inherent in most families but which is often obscured by pain, fear and anger.
Samvedam explains, "This work allows you to see a much bigger piece of family history then a single traumatic incident, and with the wider lens comes greater understanding and compassion. Constellation work does not focus on who is to blame. It is much more about where is energy not moving well? Where is love not flowing well? Then looking at how to re-establish that flow.
When participants discover their rightful, dignified place in their family, they relax and disengage from painful old patterns. This offers the opportunity to move forward in new ways and leave past issues behind."
Saturday, December 3rd ~ 10am - 5pm
This workshop is designed for individuals and couples interested in resolving life issues and seeking a solid foundation for new direction in their lives. Also welcome are health care professionals interested in enriching their practice with highly effective tools and new insights about disease, individual issues, and human behavior.
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 Food Focus:
Brown Rice
Brown rice, with its sweet nutty flavor, provides four times the amount of insoluble fiber found in white rice, because it is a whole grain that has not been stripped of its natural bran covering. It contains an impressive number of vitamins and minerals such as concentrated B vitamins (which help nervous systems and mental depression), niacin, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, and even some vitamin E. This whole grain also contains a small amount of high-quality protein in the form of the amino acid lysine, which helps boost the body's ability to fight viruses, especially those that cause cold sores. In each grain of brown rice exists a matrix of whole, unrefined energy and nutrition. It is a complex carbohydrate and therefore burns slowly in the body, providing a steady stream of long lasting energy while increasing the brain's levels of serotonin, the chemical responsible for the feeling of well-being. Those who consistently eat brown rice report steady energy and an overall feeling of calm and balance in their daily lives. For brown rice and whole grains in general, the majority of digestion occurs in the mouth through chewing and exposure to saliva. For optimal nutrition and assimilation, it is vital to chew your rice well and with awareness. A great meditation is to find a calm place, without distractions, to sit down for your meal. Make it a habit to chew each bite 20 times or more. See how this simple practice can help your digestion and overall focus for the rest of your day.
-Contributed by Nathalie Blitz of Vitamin N
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Temples of Light
"The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land."
-G. K. Chesterton
In the history of many cultures, a spiritual journey or vision quest was a traditional rite of passage intended to deepen connections and expand consciousness. In our modern world, we have rites of passage that challenge us and expand our minds, but many of these experiences lack attention to the inner self. We are swept up in "making it through...college, the wedding, the first year of a new job," and we lose sight of our spiritual journey - who we truly be - in the process.
Having lived in an Ashram in India and served as an apprentice to shamans from North and South America, I have an extraordinary appreciation for journeys of the spirit - a time and place dedicated to the purpose of spiritual alignment. Inspired by my own learning and expansion from participating in such quests, in 2006 I began leading groups for the benefit of participants inner journeys. Watching people transform brings me such joy, and I am ever honored by the opportunity to support the courageous individuals who join me.
From March 8-18th, 2012, I will be leading Egypt: Remembrances, Exploring the Mysteries. On this spiritual journey, we'll have the opportunity to be in the presence of sacred spaces designed for the purpose of spiritual alignment and for remembering and exploring the ancient mysteries of Egypt. Truly these temples serve a special function, to stir and encourage the divine to awaken within us - to illuminate the way to enlightenment. During this heart-opening journey, we'll dream our own spiritual transcendence just as the ancient mystery school initiates did thousands of years ago through ceremony, meditation and group process.
Using the mythology, stories and archetypes of the ancients we come to understand who we really are - the limitless consciousness that creates the very fabric of this reality. We'll experience the powerful energies at these sacred sites - compelling us to transcend rather than being enslaved by the old stories and mythologies of our ego-minds. It is said that during the journey to the afterlife the god Anubis weighs your heart against a feather - and only if your heart is as light as that feather will you have eternal life. By letting go of the stories which weigh heavy on our hearts, we too can be free and embrace our eternal consciousness.
For this trip, we will be accompanied by a knowledgeable Egyptologist who will share his enthusiasm and wisdom of this incredible culture. Whether or not you've ever visited Egypt before, this adventure promises to touch you deeply.
To learn more about sacred journeys, and this trip in particular, join me December 14th for the Free Monthly Teleclass. During this hour, I will discuss and answer questions about the possibilities that unfold when we take a Journey of the Spirit.
March 8th - 18th, 2012
-Contributed by Samvedam Randles of the Inner Arts Institute
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Meditation of the Month
Phoning It In
Have you ever had the experience of finding and using a great mindfulness exercise...except when you forget to do it? There are so many excellent ways to bring attention to the breath, the muscles, the hamster wheel thoughts, and still, we have to remember to do so. It is, of course, a practice that develops over time, like flossing or drinking lots of water. When learning a new "habit," we often use a known element and "add on." For example, you floss when you brush your teeth...you may require that you drink a full glass of water before you have your morning coffee, etc.
The same principle can be used to create a habit of mindfulness. In this case, we'll borrow a bit of technological assistance in the form of our cell phones. Here are a few things to try:
1) Set your phone timer (or an appointment in your phone) to vibrate at random intervals. When the timer reminds you, spend a moment checking in. You may use any of the many mindfulness techniques offered over the past years...or simply bring your attention to your breath for two full minutes.
2) Every time you receive a text message or an email, use that as your random reminder to stop, notice what's happening in your body, and quiet the mind.
3) At the end of each phone call, hang up, and check in with yourself. Offer your body a few minutes of space and expansion, by changing your physical position and maybe try a little of Kathlyn Henricks' Creative Joint Play (click link and scroll down to see video). Essentially, moving your body in ways that it's not used to, creating space between the joints. This is especially great if you have a job that requires you to sit or maintain the same position most of the day.
Play with this notion and discover whatever method best encourages your personal practice of mindfulness. Even if it sometimes feels like you're just phoning it in, at least you'll notice! And that, in itself, is a beginning.
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